Summary:
The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the tragic and twisted tale of an innocent boy thrust into a wild and uncontrollable “life on the edge”. We first meet Gray the day that he meets the man who would introduce him to this lifestyle, Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian is sitting for a portrait of himself done by Lord Wotton's friend Basil Hallward and Lord Henry happened to be stopping by. After some time Lord Henry and young Dorian retreat to a garden out back for some fresh air. It is there that Henry tells Dorian his philosophy on life.
“Because you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having.” (Wilde, p.22).
Lord Wotton put ideas like this into Gray’s innocent and untouched mind. Wotton worshiped Gray’s innocent beauty and wanted him to keep it by living a life full of youthful pleasures. After the two returned to Basil and the painting Gray prayed that he would forever stay young and beautiful but Basil’s portrait of him would grow old and deformed. Little did he know… His wish would come true.
After breaking the heart of his first love, Miss Sibyl Vane, Gray noticed that the painting begun to look more evil than before. Soon remembering his prayer, he chose to hide the painting away and never let anyone lay eyes on the hideous work ever again. As Gray continued to grow old, his face did not age one day, and while living a very questionable life, he stayed looking innocent. However, the painting grew extremely grotesque and deformed. One night Basil came to say goodbye to Gray before he left the country. After Basil convinced Gray to let him see the picture Dorian took him to the place where the piece was being stored. As Basil saw the hideous soul Gray had, he began to get angry, and as Dorian realized his friend’s anger, he determined that he must not let the man who saw the picture leave the room. Soon after, Gray stabbed Basil Hallward to death.
After years and years of regret from the incident and from living a life of self-indulgence Gray decides something must be done with the painting that is his darkened soul. So, one night, Dorian takes the very knife he stabbed basil with and drives it into the heart of the portrait. Soon after, Dorian Gray’s servants find a grotesque and deformed man lying dead on the floor, with a knife in his heart, at the foot of a painting done of a young and innocent boy.
From the movie "The Picture of Dorian Gray" The scene where the portrait is stabbed
Why on earth would this book be considered an outstanding novel? The answer to this question lies within the mind of the author himself, Mr. Oscar Wilde. I will be honest, as a reader, the book itself: the plot; characters and language were somewhat average for a book that is to be considered outstanding. However, the words the characters speak are very much not part of the story at all. The philosophy dreamt up by Lord Wotton and young Dorian is downright profound. There are parts of the book that the reader can really relate to. Some of the thoughts and ideas put forward in this book seem to be extremely modern for a book written in 1891. There is nothing outstanding about the story, but the deep and well thought philosophies of Mr. Wilde, I believe, could rival those of Aristotle.
Would I recomend this book?
Yes, I would definately recommend this book. OScar Wilde's incredible philosophies on life as well as his amazing ability to write passion into his love stories create a book for all readers. This book not only has love and philosphy, but some action and a little bit of violence as well. So, if you want a challenging read that will keep you on your toes and really make you think, Read The Picture of Dorian Gray. Work cited: Wilde,OScar. The Picture Of Dorian Gray. New York. Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. 1999
By: Oscar Wilde
One cover design of the novel
Summary:
The Picture of Dorian Gray tells the tragic and twisted tale of an innocent boy thrust into a wild and uncontrollable “life on the edge”. We first meet Gray the day that he meets the man who would introduce him to this lifestyle, Lord Henry Wotton. Dorian is sitting for a portrait of himself done by Lord Wotton's friend Basil Hallward and Lord Henry happened to be stopping by. After some time Lord Henry and young Dorian retreat to a garden out back for some fresh air. It is there that Henry tells Dorian his philosophy on life.
“Because you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having.” (Wilde, p.22).
Lord Wotton put ideas like this into Gray’s innocent and untouched mind. Wotton worshiped Gray’s innocent beauty and wanted him to keep it by living a life full of youthful pleasures. After the two returned to Basil and the painting Gray prayed that he would forever stay young and beautiful but Basil’s portrait of him would grow old and deformed. Little did he know… His wish would come true.
After breaking the heart of his first love, Miss Sibyl Vane, Gray noticed that the painting begun to look more evil than before. Soon remembering his prayer, he chose to hide the painting away and never let anyone lay eyes on the hideous work ever again. As Gray continued to grow old, his face did not age one day, and while living a very questionable life, he stayed looking innocent. However, the painting grew extremely grotesque and deformed. One night Basil came to say goodbye to Gray before he left the country. After Basil convinced Gray to let him see the picture Dorian took him to the place where the piece was being stored. As Basil saw the hideous soul Gray had, he began to get angry, and as Dorian realized his friend’s anger, he determined that he must not let the man who saw the picture leave the room. Soon after, Gray stabbed Basil Hallward to death.
After years and years of regret from the incident and from living a life of self-indulgence Gray decides something must be done with the painting that is his darkened soul. So, one night, Dorian takes the very knife he stabbed basil with and drives it into the heart of the portrait. Soon after, Dorian Gray’s servants find a grotesque and deformed man lying dead on the floor, with a knife in his heart, at the foot of a painting done of a young and innocent boy.
From the movie "The Picture of Dorian Gray" The scene where the portrait is stabbed
Why on earth would this book be considered an outstanding novel?
The answer to this question lies within the mind of the author himself, Mr. Oscar Wilde. I will be honest, as a reader, the book itself: the plot; characters and language were somewhat average for a book that is to be considered outstanding. However, the words the characters speak are very much not part of the story at all. The philosophy dreamt up by Lord Wotton and young Dorian is downright profound. There are parts of the book that the reader can really relate to. Some of the thoughts and ideas put forward in this book seem to be extremely modern for a book written in 1891. There is nothing outstanding about the story, but the deep and well thought philosophies of Mr. Wilde, I believe, could rival those of Aristotle.
Would I recomend this book?
Yes, I would definately recommend this book. OScar Wilde's incredible philosophies on life as well as his amazing ability to write passion into his love stories create a book for all readers. This book not only has love and philosphy, but some action and a little bit of violence as well. So, if you want a challenging read that will keep you on your toes and really make you think, Read The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Work cited: Wilde,OScar. The Picture Of Dorian Gray. New York. Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. 1999